Hadjar suggests F1 should not race on Sunday if conditions are like Q1

Qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix started on time, but the FIA had to bring out the red flag after just two minutes. Torrential rain hit the circuit, and running only resumed several tens of minutes later. However, Isack Hadjar believes that if the same conditions prevail on Sunday, the wait should be a little longer.

As we waited for qualifying to resume and the red flag to be lifted, memories of the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix began circulating on social media. On that memorable Sunday, Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica went head-to-head in a thrilling battle — in an absolute deluge. The footage they produced leaves us looking back and wondering whether Formula 1 will ever be able to race in similar conditions again.

However, a return to racing in heavy rain remains a distant prospect for Formula 1. According to Isack Hadjar, conditions were far from ideal even at the start of Q1, despite Bernd Mayländer judging that the cars could take to the track. “There’s just not enough grip from the tyres. I think that was very sketchy to drive,” said the Red Bull driver.

If rain delays a restart on Sunday, he believes the FIA will have to wait a little longer. “The Q1 conditions would not have been race-able but because it’s a qualifying session, we can have a go at it. [But it was] very tricky.”

“Yeah, I mean, I’m not happy with how the tyres behave. Once there’s a little bit of standing water, the amount of aquaplaning I got today, even on the extreme, to me is not up to the level,” was Hadjar‘s message to tyre manufacturer Pirelli.

The French driver qualified seventh, but will move up two places once penalties for George Russell and Charles Leclerc are applied. However, the Red Bull driver cannot shake the feeling that he could have finished even higher. “We missed out on a much better result because we were last of the queue going into that final Q3 lap.”